A delegation of Christian religious leaders met Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Monday and appealed to him not give assent to the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Ordinance.
The leaders told the Governor that the entire Christian community in Karnataka opposed the proposed legislation, which is also known as anti-conversion Bill, and questioned the need for such an exercise when sufficient laws and court directives were in place to monitor any violation. Referring to the Fundamental Rights enshrined in Article 25 and Article 26, the delegation said that introducing such laws would infringe on the rights of citizens, especially of the minority community.
The delegation said that the Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department had earlier ordered a survey of official and unofficial Christian missionaries, institutions and establishments in the State. “When all the relevant data is already available, why do we need yet another futile exercise? Why only Christians are being targeted and marked for this arbitrary, fallacious and illogical move? What is the motive that is driving them to do?” they wondered.
